Snow on the Prairie

Winter may seem long and harsh on the prairie, and not very pretty to some.  But it is as natural as the color and rains of spring and the heat of summer.  Many prairie seeds need the freezing and thawing, the dry cold and the wet cold, and the freeze and thaw loosening of the soil to be ready to germinate in the spring.

There isn't much color now, mainly the clean white of the snow, beige and rust in the grass, and the bright red cardinals.  Lots of cardinals this winter, fluffed against the cold.

Eager

It's a wonderful day on the prairie!  Fifty degrees in January!  Catalogs and emails announcing native plant sales are coming in.  But it's all a tease.  When a day comes around when I actually have some time it is cold and wet and windy!  But spring is on the way.  This year I'll start planting in the outback and hope they spread over the years.  Wish I had a Buffalo to help with the grass.  Now there's a birthday idea!

Fog

Prairie and sunshine seem to go together, but there is fog too. And the past few days have certainly been foggy and wet, starting with a beautiful hoarfrost Monday morning. Many of the native seeds need the alternating moisture and freezing to be ready for sprouting in the spring. And I am ready for spring!

Many of my native plants, especially the grasses, I dig from along roadways in the area. I transplant them when they are dormant in the fall. They are already climatized to the area and they do very well.

There are also a few great online sources for native plants and seeds. My favorites are:

Prairie Moon Nursery, especially for seeds
High Country Gardens, wonderful plants and preplanned gardens, and a beautiful catalog

January 2010

It's been a cold week, just like a January week should be on the prairie.

With this page I hope to chronicle happenings at the Smith place through comments and photos. Mainly I'll follow the seasons through our native flowers and grasses, and our attempts to preserve our small part of the prairie.

The Christmas things should be out away but they are not. Dave has been in Kyrgyzstan for nearly three months now, and the Christmas decorations stay until he has his family Christmas. He'll be home next week.

Our prairie doesn't look so good right now; the ground is frozen and everything is brown. But there is life there and, next snow, I'll add to it by scattering seeds. Always exciting to see what spring brings.